People with severe asthma have low blood concentrations of ascorbate (vitamin C), particularly men [1] and children [2].

Effective asthma treatment is readily available with cheap, safe and convenient vitamin C. The only requirement is to take enough vitamin C to be effective. Typical dietary quantities and low supplemental doses do not work. Robert F. Cathcart III, M.D., who has treated many asthma sufferers, says “Asthma is most often relieved by bowel tolerance doses of ascorbate (vitamin C).

A child regularly having asthmatic attacks following exercise is usually relieved of these attacks by large doses of ascorbate. So far all of my patients having asthmatic attacks associated with the onset of viral diseases have been ameliorated by this treatment.”[3]

If you want asthma relief, consider trying this:Go to a discount store and buy a large bottle of 1,000 mg vitamin C tablets. The cost should be less than $15.

Beginning when you awake in the morning, take 1,000 to 2,000 mg of vitamin C every 30 minutes and continue doing so until you have a single episode of loose stool (not quite diarrhea). If you haven’t had loose stool after 15 hours on this dosage, increase the vitamin C to 3000 mg every 30 minutes.

After you have a loose bowel movement, reduce the dosage to 2,000 mg of vitamin C every hour. You will quickly find the dosage that is right for you. Adjust the dosage of vitamin C downward to stay below the dosage that will cause loose stool and adjust it upward to relieve asthma symptoms.

The usual maintenance dosage to remain asthma-free is 15,000

to 50,000 mg of vitamin C per day taken in eight equally divided

doses.

People with asthma should also avoid tobacco smoke, minimize stress in their lives and minimize their consumption of junk foods, meat and dairy products.

Remember:

Vitamin C replaces antibiotics, antihistamines, antipyretics, antitoxics, and antiviral drugs at saturation (bowel tolerance) levels. It reduces inflammation.​A vitamin can act as a drug, but a drug can never act as a vitamin.

The reason one nutrient can cure so many different illnesses is because a deficiency of one nutrient can cause many different illnesses.

There is not even one death per year from vitamins. Pharmaceutical drugs, properly prescribed and taken as directed, kill over 100,000 Americans annually. Hospital errors kill still more. Unlike drugs, with vitamins, the range of safe dosages is extraordinarily large.

What is Orthomolecular Medicine?

Linus Pauling defined orthomolecular medicine as "the treatment of disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body." Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness.

That article, as with all my writings, talked about getting to the root of asthmatic symptoms and how certain medications provide clues to the cause of any asthma. What I soon realized after that article was written was that there is very little information regarding asthma, (and EIA), other than how to get by with a prescription drug.

The lack of information is something that I am continuously reminded of as I still receive [weekly] emails from every continent other than Antarctica, just from that one article. So after a long hiatus from contributing to RJ, here is my comeback article, with a revisit to the non-information, (if that is even a word), and mis-information regarding asthma and EIA. (For simplicity, I will use the word asthma rather than distinguish between EIA and asthma.) Take a puff of that inhaler and read on.

The number one reason for asthma is an adrenal related issue. This is because the majority of bronchodilators are adrenergic and / or steroid medications. Asthma is most commonly a classic case of a lung symptom resulting from a hormonal problem. Like most things treated today, this is similar to putting a muzzle on a barking dog so you can continue to step on his tail.

The common names for adrenergic medications are albuterol, (Proventil, Ventolin, Volmax, Airet), levalbuterol, terbutaline, Maxair, and Foradil. These drugs stimulate the adrenal medulla, which is where adrenalin and noradrenalin are made.

Therefore, if one of these medications “work” for you, then investigating what is driving (or actually not driving) the adrenal glands to do this themselves is something to look at. Additionally, many times there is something irritating the lungs and the adrenal glands simply cannot muster up the strength to deal with the irritation on their own.

Common irritants to the lungs are poor air quality, other medications, food and environmental allergies, and chemical intolerances and sensitivities – such as MSG, Aspartame (Nutrasweet), and chemicals called aldehydes. Aldehydes are the main chemicals in perfumes, carpets, paints, and other similar items which many people are sensitive to.

The adrenal corticosteroids are another popular group of meds. These drugs include Aerobid, Flovent, Azmacort, Pulmicort, Qvar, and others. These affect the adrenal cortex which is where hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone are made. Cortisol is your major hormone secreted as a result of stress.

​It is an anti-inflammatory hormone and it is partly responsible for blood sugar control. Aldosterone is the major hormone that helps regulate your electrolytes, primarily sodium and potassium. When aldosterone levels are low you’ll lose a lot of sodium in your sweat and urine leaving you dehydrated and fatigued.

Many people have an adrenal cortex problem. Saliva tests available today are extremely accurate in measuring the circadian rhythm of cortisol to pinpoint any potential problem, and during an applied kinesiology examination the physician will look for certain muscle imbalances that are a result of adrenal gland dysfunction.

Often these muscle imbalances result in foot pain, low back pain, and knee pain – so you can see the link between physical ailments (joint pain) and chemical-hormonal problems (asthma). Plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and ITB frictional syndrome are three very common injuries that almost always have an adrenal component to them. It is not just a coincidence that an injury like that pops in a person who also has an asthma problem, or EIA occurs after an injury. You can read more about these injuries under the Athlete Section.

The adrenal glands and the pancreas work together to maintain a balanced blood sugar. So if the adrenal glands are not working well, then blood sugar is a problem too. Signs of an intolerance to carbohydrates, termed insulin resistance, include symptoms such as craving sugar, getting sleepy after eating, headaches, loss of concentraion, and irritability, just to name a few.

So when an adrenal based medication helps your asthma think about your adrenal glands, not your lungs.

Evaluate (or see a doctor who can) what may be causing your adrenal glands to not function properly. Are you training too hard – (overtrained)? Is your diet bad – containing excess sugars, caffeine, and hydrogenated fats, MSG? Are you under too much stress?

Other medications combat allergic reactions and inflammation. Mast cells in the body secrete histamine in response to an allergy. Mast cell histamine blocker medications are Omalizumab (Xolair), Intal (cromolyn), Tilade, and Accolate, Singulair, and Zyflo are the common leukotriene modifiers.

These do two things: they act as an antihistamine and they block leukotrienes, which are inflammatory hormones. So if any of these meds work for you then you need to figure out why you are making histamine and/or leukotrienes; that’s what makes sense to me.

Histamines are produced in response to, most commonly, an allergy, though they can be a result of injury and infection too. Although the allergy can be environmental such as pollen, grasses, or weeds, I can safely say from clinical experience that there is almost never someone who has an environmental allergy that does not have a food allergy.

They usually just don’t know about the food allergy. Some estimates are that over 55% of people are allergic to something, and a vast majority of those individuals are allergic to a food that they don’t know is bothering them. This is because the majority (80%) of food allergies are of a slow onset type, not the anaphylactic type most are aware of where you flare up with a rash from eating a peanut or shellfish.

The most common food allergens with respect to asthma are [cow's] dairy (casein), wheat (gluten & gliadin), soy, corn, egg, and nightshades (tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper, paprika, tobacco, and Goji berries). So if histamine levels are already high and when an extra stressor such as pollen comes around, it’s too much for the person’s immune system to handle. These are the same people who need to take Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, or any other antihistamine to get through the change of season.

Leukotrienes are often made in response to a fatty acid imbalance problem. They can also occur from taking NSAIDs. Yes, those very same medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, Aleve Advil, Mobic, etc…, or other anti-inflammatory drugs, can really be messing things up. A diet that contains hydrogenated fats is also a big culprit to this problem.

Considering the fact that the half-life of a hydrogenated “trans” fat is 51 days, eating a food with this stuff in it as little as once a week can be enough to cause problems. A diet too high in saturated fats such as red meat (non-grass fed beef and pork), dairy, and shellfish can also cause this chemical reaction. Nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin B6, zinc, and the powerful bioflavonoids like grape seed, turmeric, and quercetin tend to help with leukotriene and histamine problems.

Atrovent, Apovent, Aerovent, are in the anticholinergic category. This has to do with a sympathetic/parasympathetic imbalance which basically means that the nervous system is out of whack. Most commonly, the nervous system is too stressed – too “hyped-up”.

Correlating symptoms include sleep problems, sensitivities to light and noise, and a short temper. Interestingly, most multi-vitamins and B-complex supplements contain choline in them, many times in high quantities. Taking choline at the same time as taking Atrovent, (in this instance), would not be a wise idea.

So what does this all mean? It means that there is a reason for asthma – it just doesn’t pop up one day. Some people are born with sub-optimal lung function from an underdevelopment during fetal life. In the third trimester of pregnancy a mother who is too stressed literally robs her baby’s adrenal gland hormones. She feels a lot better, but the baby suffers, and once born the mother may suffer from post-partnum depression while the baby has immune system or asthma issues.

​For many people unresolved stress and an overload of the nervous and hormonal systems leads to asthma. If you “need” a medication, or should I say, “do better with a medication”, then take a step back and ask yourself why. If a physician tells you to take a certain drug, ask him or her why it will benefit you and what is the medication trying to accomplish.

Remember, the inhalers and other meds don’t fix anything; they just get you by. Staying on an asthma med often results in health problems becoming worse since the cause goes unaddressed, there are side-effects to the meds, and the medications can alter and deplete the respective areas they are effecting. So resolving the asthma will not only take a load off your chest (haha) but your overall health will improve and that will mean improved performance – in fitness and life.

Research has shown that children who ate a banana each day had a 34% lower chance of going on to develop asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing. Bananas are one of the best sources of pyridoxine, commonly known as vitamin B6. Pyridoxine goes on to produce compounds which been shown to help relax bronchial muscle tissue. Kids love bananas and they can be added to cereals, smoothies or just eaten from their skin for a nutritious and energy giving healh boost.

AVOCADOS

Avocados contain a substance called glutathione which is known to protect cell damage from free radicals. It also works to detoxify the body of pollutants which can lead to breathing problems. They are also a rich source of vitamin E. Avocados can help in stabilizing blood sugar levels, improving cardiovascular health and protect the eyes against age related degeneration. They are a powerhouse of nutrients and are a fantastic addition to a salad or added to a smoothie, or again eaten straight from the skin.

GARLIC

Garlic is another super-food as it has so many health benefits, including maintaining cardiovascular health, preventing cancer, and reducing high blood pressure. It is beneficial for asthma sufferers due to the high levels of vitamin C and it’s powerful antioxidant properties. Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals, unstable molecules that cause contraction of airway smooth muscles in asthma patients. Raw garlic reduces the amount of histamines produced in the body so easing any allergic reactions in asthmatics which normally promote inflammation.Garlic can also boost the ability of the body to create prostacyclins. These are lipid molecules that help keep the air passages of the lungs open and thus promote easy breathing in asthma sufferers.

SUNFLOWER SEEDS

Asthmas patients will benefit from eating sunflower seeds on a regular basis. They are packed full of nutrients including potassium, magnesium and vitamin E. In addition one cup contains a third of the daily recommended amount of selenium which is a mineral linked with a whole raft of health benefitsbut in particular is known to help individuals that struggle with asthma by reducing the varioussymptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing. Sunflower seeds are relatively calorific but eating these mild nutty seeds in small amounts regularly will help keep healthy lungs and airways.

PARSLEY

Parsley loosens phlegm and will help rid the airways of a build up of mucus. Eating parsley can relieve any tightness across the chest muscles and soothe sore throats that can be aggravated by coughing bouts when the mucus has been expelled. It is a tasty herb versatile enough to use in many dishes or added to a juice or smoothie. Parsley leaf can also be made into a herbal tea.

These are just some of the natural treatments for asthma which can provide relief without over-reliance on chemical packed inhalers and steroid treatments.

Asthmanefrin™ is an over-the-counter medication for the temporary relief of bronchial asthma, including shortness of breath, tightness of chest and wheezing. Asthmanefrin™ can be administered for patients ages four (4) and older.

Asthmanefrin™ is an inhaled solution delivered to the patient via a handheld device known as an atomizer.

This product is not a CFC inhaler, and presents no risk to the environment. Asthmanefrin™ has been used to treat asthma in children and adults for over a hundred years.

Asthma, including exercise induced asthma (EIA), is the diagnosis given to more and more people everyday, from kids to athletes to overfat individuals. This condition is defined as a spasm or constriction of the bronchials causing diminished airflow resulting in wheezing, tightness of the chest, difficulty breathing, and sometimes coughing.

When the vital capacity, or the total volume of air that can be forcibly exhaled in one breath, does not change or decreases with exercise, the person most likely has EIA. The vital capacity should normally increase with exercise. Almost all people with asthma will have EIA, but those with EIA do not necessarily have a problem with breathing unless exercising.

Athletes of all ages are given the diagnosis of EIA as they suddenly develop these breathing difficulties that appear out of nowhere. (“Just started one day while I was running.” or “I never had this problem before.”) These symptoms are thought to have no specific origin.

There are numerous prescribed anti-asthma medications on the market today, and EIA is commonly diagnosed and treated with prescription drugs with no attempt to understand the underlying processes which cause the problem. This article will shine some light on the matter.

There are currently six different categories of anti-asthma medications. Which individual drug may help a given patient depends on what is causing the asthma symptoms. The medication isn’t going to cure the asthma, it will simply help the person manage it better. One of the clues used to help an individual truly overcome the cause of their asthma is to see what medication benefits them most. Whether they are not on a medication yet or not, then it’s important to fully investigate the origin of the asthma, so it may be dealt with at the source.

Although asthma is a symptom of the lungs, there is most always not a primary lung problem to be dealt with, but a problem from another area of the body affecting the function of the lungs. Likewise, the medications used to combat asthma have been developed to treat the areas of the body that are thought to cause the constriction-spasm symptoms of the bronchials.

So what is causing the asthma and how do you go about fixing it, or at least dealing with it to the best of your ability? The answer depends on what is triggering your asthma. What is causing your asthma can be completely different from what is causing your friend’s asthma, even though your symptoms appear to be identical.

The majority of asthma medications developed are made to enhance adrenal gland function and are called Beta2-adrenergic agonists. The usual medications in this category are albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) and Epinephrine (an adrenal gland derived hormone), though there are many more, though there are more such as levalbuterol, terbutaline, Maxair, and Foradil. When the adrenal glands are under a lot of stress, whether from training too hard or too often, emotional stress, nutritional stress (too much refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, poor diet), or a combination of these, then the adrenal glands slowly become depleted over time.

The adrenal glands are responsible for many important functions in your body. They help with your electrolyte balance; they help manage hormone levels; they determine how you manage your glucose and energy levels; they influence how you repair your joints and fight inflammation; they affect your mood and even your sleep.

These are all things my articles have addressed in the past. The big idea here is that if one important organ isn’t working as well as it should, you can have many symptoms going on. You can drive yourself crazy going from one doctor to the next trying to understand and fix each problem separately, but many times they are all closely related.

That is why I have talked about an athlete not sleeping well, not being able to get over an injury, and having a problem managing electrolyte imbalances while training or racing, all as a result of one process not working as well as it should. Asthma can easily enter the picture here.

​This explains why suddenly having asthma symptoms one day while heading out for a run is really an end process of a longer period of depleting your reserves. The stress has caught up with you and to deal with it effectively and get over it, you need to understand why it is there and where it is coming from.

Other times, the asthma is a result of the adrenal glands, but from a different part of the gland, the adrenal cortex. These are corticosteroid medications. This type of asthma can be influenced by insulin insensitivity and carbohydrate intolerance. The medications used to help deal with the asthma are those such as Flovent, Pulmicort, Qvar, and Aerobid. Treating this asthma at the source involves investigating the adrenal glands, the pancreas, the diet and exercise (or lack of) habits, and lifestyle stressors of the individual.

Medications like Advair and Symbicort combine both the corticosteroid activity and the Beta2 drugs noted above.

When an individual is helped by Ipratropium, (Atrovent, Apovent, Aerovent), an anticholinergic medication, there is a problem with the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. This is many times associated with an adrenal or stress pattern affecting the neurtransmitter acetylcholine in the body that has gone on for some time and the body is having trouble recovering.

Not always is asthma a result of adrenal gland depletion. In the case where the asthma is triggered by histamine, an allergic reaction must be sought as the culprit. Antihistamine/allergy medications such as Omalizumab (Xolair), Intal (cromolyn) and Tilade will show a beneficial effect, but to get to the bottom of this type of asthma, the reactive chemical or allergy must be identified and treated.

Many times this is a reaction to a food that was eaten two to three hours before exercise, but the reaction could be from ingesting the offending food over a period of time long before the exercise. Eliminating the food (or sometimes chemical sensitivity) from the diet and helping the individual’s immune system overcome the stress can result in dramatic changes is health and performance. This type of reaction is very, very common (along with the adrenal gland issues).

Then there are those in the smaller categories that have asthma as a direct result to the lungs in which case something is triggering the lungs directly. This could be from a chemical or environmental sensitivity/allergy (sulfite, strong perfume, pollen/grasses). Aerolate is one example this xanthine bronchodilator medication used conventionally to help this reaction.

Medications known as a leukotriene modifiers (Accolate, Singulair,Zyflo) are also common. They’re used to combat inflammatory conditions that are much stronger than those resulting from an immune-histamine reaction.

They also come with psychological side effects such as aggression and depression. Fighting this type of inflammation as well as most inflammation in your body involves balancing fatty acid metabolism (Omega 3 & 6 fats), dealing with insulin resistance/carbohydrate intolerance, and assessing antioxidant status.

Whether you have asthma or EIA it is important to know what is triggering your asthma and how to treat it effectively. Sometimes it is easy to help a person get over their asthma by treating the underlying processes which cause it, especially if they just started having symptoms.

​Other times, a more thorough investigation is needed to understand what is at the base of the problem. But whatever the case, as the asthma cases are skyrocketing, you now have an understanding of how you might get your second wind.​

Adrenal Fatigue:

Millions of people are walking around suffering from respiratory allergies... asthma... recurring colds... and bronchitis—and they don’t have to be.

Pam, a woman in her 40s, had three colds in a row that turned into bronchitis. She told me that she had been struggling with allergies and persistent fatigue for most of her adult life. I see so many patients with this combination of symptoms that I immediately suspected that she had an altogether different problem. It is called adrenal fatigue (AF), a collection of symptoms that occur when the adrenal glands, which produce stress- and inflammation-fighting hormones, no longer function properly.

You might wonder what AF has to do with these other conditions. My answer: Everything. What’s really going on is that AF is masquerading as allergies or asthma. Once AF is properly diagnosed and treated, these other conditions quickly clear up. I prescribed a treatment plan for Pam designed to get her adrenal glands functioning normally again. After just two months on the program, her respiratory problems disappeared and her energy level was higher than it had been in years.

What you need to know:

AF is most often associated with a wide range of symptoms, including lack of energy, insomnia, blood sugar swings, cognitive impairment and depressed mood. But AF also can have a significant impact on your immune system. In addition, it often is not recognized by conventional physicians because it doesn’t show up on regular lab tests.

As surprising as it may sound, if you suffer from a respiratory allergy to dust, pollen, ragweed, pet dander or other environmental allergen—or if you have asthma that recurs despite treatment—there’s a chance that your real problem is improperly functioning adrenal glands. (I have even found that AF is associated with asthma in some children, although it is more common in adults with asthma.)

AF CAN BE THE ROOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS

The adrenal glands are responsible for producing the hormones cortisol (released into the bloodstream in response to stress) and dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA (a precursor to hormones such as estrogen and testosterone).

AF usually occurs when patients undergo extended periods of stress, which cause levels of DHEA and cortisol to become elevated for long periods of time, usually four months or longer (although this varies by patient). The surplus production of DHEA and cortisol overtaxes the adrenals, resulting in a sharp drop in DHEA and cortisol levels.

What AF does to the immune system:

Both cortisol and DHEA modulate the immune system’s inflammatory response. When the glands no longer produce sufficient amounts of these hormones, the immune system becomes overactive, producing inflammatory responses even when there’s no real threat or infection looming. Result: Allergic responses... respiratory infections... and asthma.

Most conventional medical doctors treat these conditions by prescribing antihistamines for allergy symptoms and corticosteroids to ward off asthma. In other words, they treat the symptoms, not the disease.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

If you suspect that you have AF, it’s best to see a naturopathic physician and have your adrenal function tested. My preference is a saliva test, which is more accurate than a blood or urine test. Your physician will retest you three or four months after treatment begins to see if your levels have improved.

HOW TO HEAL THE ADRENALS

My treatment protocol for AF involves supplements to boost adrenal function and/or increase resistance to stress. Patients follow the protocol for four to six months, which is the time it usually takes to get the adrenals working properly again. Most patients begin to feel better within the first month or two. When patients are doing well, I help wean them off their allergy or asthma medications during this time.

​People with very severe cases usually stay on my regimen for eight to 10 months. After treatment, patients either take lower doses or stop taking these supplements altogether, depending on their overall health. The supplements that I recommend below include herbs (which are most important in helping this condition) and B vitamins. There are no side effects except as noted.

Ashwagandha.

This herb, used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammation, is a potent adaptogen, an herb that helps to bring physiological processes into balance and enhances the body’s ability to handle stress. It has a strong effect on the adrenal glands and normalizes production of cortisol. Dose: 250 milligrams (mg) daily of ashwagandha standardized to contain 8% of the active ingredient with anolide.

Rhodiola.

Another adaptogen, rhodiola is an herb that has been used for centuries in Eastern Europe and Asia as an energy and mood enhancer. It boosts adrenal function, and studies show that it also improves the body’s resistance to stress. Dose: 300 mg daily of rhodiola standardized to contain 3% of the active ingredient rosavin.

Siberian ginseng(Eleutherococcus).

Another adaptogen, this herbal extract has been used for centuries in Russia and Asia to boost energy and fight stress. Dose: 150 mg to 200 mg daily of Siberian ginseng extract standardized to contain 0.8% eleutheroside. Side effects: Can cause insomnia if taken before bedtime and can affect some diabetes drugs. Should not be used during pregnancy.

Vitamin B-5(pantothenic acid).

Vitamin B-5 helps adrenal function and is used by the body to manufacture cortisol. Dose: 250 mg to 500 mg of vitamin B-5 daily.

Finally, I advise my patients to take steps to reduce stress in their daily lives. Recommendations: Get enough sleep (seven to eight hours a night)... take a 30-minute midday nap, if possible... eliminate all refined sugars from your diet... take regular vacations... and minimize daily stress by exercising or participating in relaxing activities, such as listening to calming music.

Source: Mark A. Stengler, NMD, is a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. Dr. Stengler is author of the Health Revelations newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), founder and medical director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine in Encinitas, California, and adjunct associate clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.http://MarkStengler.com

Millions of people suffer from asthma, and asthma rates have been going up dramatically in the last few decades, primarily among industrialized nations. What is causing this almost epidemic surge of asthma? Is it as simple as air pollution and allergy triggers?

More importantly, can asthma be reversed, and if so, how? Using over a thousand scientific references and clinical reports, "Asthma Solved Naturally" provides the surprising answers to these questions.

Rejecting the 'dumbing down' of this condition as often portrayed, the author - a California Naturopath - comprehensively demonstrates the underlying causes of asthma while providing hundreds of clinically and scientifically verified inexpensive natural strategies - some thousands of years old - used successfully to eliminate asthma.

Have had a tough few weeks with ashtma as I have had a cold - flu.. will not go away.. till I put magnesium oil on my chest... 3 times a day... and the cold went away along with most of the asthma ... once I put the oil on ... my chest felt like it fell on the floor.. but the breathing came back ... no inhaler ...

the muscles around the chest are very tight... was born with this... my son was also .. but they did a procedure on my son a few days after he was born... and he has no problems ... Shapiro Steve